News News Young Professionals in Nuclear Field Connect with the IAEA at International Congress in China 2016-08-11 The IAEA took an active part in the International Youth Nuclear Congress (IYNC) in July this year, which focused on the theme ?Nuclear Powering our Life?. Over 400 young professionals from around the world attended the Congress, where they learned about the peaceful applications of nuclear technology, nuclear security, public and emergency communications, as well as the IAEA?s junior professional and internship programmes More » National Seminar on the peaceful applications of nuclear techniques takes place in Kuwait 2016-06-21 A National Seminar on the Peaceful Applications of Nuclear Techniques, organized by the IAEA in cooperation with the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), has taken place from 30 to 31 May under the patronage of Dr. Samira A. S. Omar, KISR?s Director General. More » The Kingdom of Bahrain continues its efforts to enhance the quality of its nuclear medicine services 2016-06-20 A national workshop on ?Improving Nuclear Medicine Practices in Bahrain?

was successfully organized by the IAEA from 22-26 May in Bahrain, attended by about 40 participants from various stakeholder institutions in the Kingdom of Bahrain. More » Meeting Partners, Meeting Expectations: The RCA Regional Cooperative Agreement Holds its 38th Regional Meeting 2016-06-06 From 17-20 May, 45 representatives from 20 state parties to the RCA were joined by IAEA experts in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, where they met to review, discuss and agree on strategies to increase cooperation around the peaceful use of nuclear science and technology. More » The ARASIA Approach for an Effective and Sustainable Cooperation 2016-04-28 A four-day meeting, attended by ARASIA National Representatives, provided a platform for deliberations on strategic and policy issues pertaining to the management of ARASIA and its future programme to ensure that cooperation has a real and sustainable impact.

More » Regional Workshop on Drafting Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material 2016-04-22 30 participants from 17 countries across the region of Asia and the Pacific gathered in Vienna from 18-22 April 2016 for a practical workshop to fully draft national implementing regulations for transport of radioactive materials in accordance with the IAEA safety standards. More » Quality in quantity: 80 participants receive training in designing TC Projects 2016-03-30 50 participants and an additional 30 observers have recently attended a sub-regional workshop in Bangkok, Thailand, from 23 to 26 February, to learn more about the Logical Framework Approach (LFA) and its application in the development and implementation of IAEA TC projects. More » The RCA holds Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting 2016-03-09 Members of the RCA Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) have met for the fourth time in Austria, Vienna from 15-19 February 2016, with the endorsement of the RCA National Representatives at the 44th RCA General Conference Meeting.

More » Making coordinated progress: National Liaison Officers (NLOs) and National Representatives (NRs) gather in Vienna to enhance the delivery of the TC programme in Asia & the Pacific 2016-03-07 Fifty-four National Liaison Officers and National Representatives from 36 Member States and territories in the Asia and the Pacific region met recently at the IAEA?s Vienna Headquarters, from 22?25 February 2016 More » Infant and young child nutrition on the agenda of the IAEA 2016-03-04 The IAEA is supporting its Member States in the Asia and the Pacific region to ensure the healthy growth of young children through an ongoing regional project which aims to inform decision-makers on the effectiveness of breastfeeding promotion campaigns.

More » Nepal signs a Country Programme Framework (CPF) for 2016-2021 2016-03-02 HE Mr Gajendra Kumar Thakur, Secretary of Nepal?s Ministry of Science and Technology, and Mr Dazhu Yang, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, have signed Nepal?s Country Programme Framework (CPF) for the period of 2016 - 2021 on 29 February, 2016. More » IAEA and Dubai Health Authority sign Practical Arrangement to build capacities in nuclear medicine 2016-02-23 The IAEA and the Dubai Health Authority are now working together to develop and enhance the IAEA Curricula for Nuclear Medicine Professionals (ICNMP), a state-of-the-art training programme. More » Staying on track: IAEA and UAE monitor, evaluate and review ongoing projects, together 2016-02-10 With the aim of maintaining the progress already achieved, two IAEA experts and 25 representatives of various UAE government agencies recently convened in Abu Dhabi to attend a workshop on TC project monitoring and evaluation methodologies and tools.

More » IAEA to Organize Expert Meeting on Fighting ?Zika? Mosquitoes 2016-02-05 In response to the Zika outbreak in Latin America, the IAEA will organize a meeting of experts to review the use of nuclear techniques for the control of mosquitoes that carry the virus, Director General Yukiya Amano said in Mexico City on Thursday. More » A Day with ?Dr Dammi?: Nuclear Medicine in Action in Sri Lanka 2016-02-03 ?Don?t sit down, this isn?t a lecture,? the doctor cries. As the medical students jump to their feet, she tells them: ?We?re in a clinic. You need to get close to the patient.? More » Nuclear Technique Can Help Control Disease-Transmitting Mosquitoes 2016-02-03 Countries from around the world are showing increased interest in the use of the sterile insect technique (SIT) to suppress the populations of mosquitoes that transmit, among others, the Zika virus, said Aldo Malavasi, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications.

More » A Cancer Survivor?s Tale 2016-02-03 Chalani Jayarathne was diagnosed with cancer in 2014. She was successfully treated with radioactive iodine at the Peradeniya Nuclear Medicine Unit in the Central Province of Sri Lanka under Dr. Damayanthi Nanayakkara and her team. The IAEA has been supporting this facility for over 40 years, through the provision of equipment and professional training. Chalani talks about her treatment, recovery and future plans. More » Papua New Guinea signs its first Country Programme Framework (CPF) for 2016?2021 2015-12-03 HE Mr Joshua Kalinoe, Papua New Guinea?s Ambassador to Brussels and the EU, and Mr Dazhu Yang, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, have signed Papua New Guinea?s Country Programme Framework for the period of 2016?2021.

More » Palau signs its First Country Programme Framework (CPF) for 2016?2021 2015-12-02 Mr Dazhu Yang, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, signed Palau?s Country Programme Framework (CPF) for the period of 2016?2021 on 2 December 2015. More » Cooperating on crops: IAEA and ICBA meet to finalize joint activities 2015-11-25 In follow up to the signing of a Practical Arrangement, a meeting was held with representatives of the ICBA on 4-5 November at the Agency?s Vienna headquarters to prepare a mutually-agreeable action plan in order to operationalize the budding collaboration.

More » On the safe side: IAEA organizes Second School for Drafting Radiation Safety Regulations in Asia and the Pacific 2015-11-25 As part of an ongoing regional TC project, in which 28 Member States and territories are participating, the Agency hosted its Second School for Drafting Regulations on Radiation Safety for IAEA Member States in the Asia and the Pacific region from 9 to 20 November 2015, at its headquarters in Vienna. More » Close collaboration, closer care: IAEA and partners support nuclear medicine professionals in Asia and the Pacific 2015-11-19 DDG Dazhu Yang has signed recently two Practical Arrangements (PA)?the first with the King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) in Jordan, and the second with the Chonnam National University Medical School and Hospitals (CNUMSH) in Korea?to foster collaboration for the development and implementation of the IAEA Curricula for Nuclear Medicine Professionals (ICNMP). More » Viet Nam signs its third Country Programme Framework (CPF) for 2016 - 2021 2015-11-02 H.E Mr.

PHAM Cong Tac, Vice Minister of Science and Technology and Mr Dazhu Yang, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, have signed Viet Nam?s Country Programme Framework (CPF) for the period of 2016-2021 on 2 November 2015. More » Second Regional Meeting for Peer Review of National Self-assessments of Compliance Assurance Regime for Transport Safety, and for the Establishment of Ongoing Use of Network 2015-10-28 The meeting was hosted by the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (BAPETEN) and took place in the capital city of Jakarta from 28 September to 2 October 2015. More » Regional Workshop on Research Reactor Decommissioning and Associated Waste Management and Radiation Protection Considerations 2015-10-26 A Regional Workshop on Research Reactor Decommissioning and Associated Waste Management and Radiation Protection Considerations, organized by the IAEA in cooperation with the Government of China, has taken place in Beijing from 19 October to 23 October 2015. The workshop was hosted by the China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE).

More » Regional Meeting on Review of Initial Radon Measurements and Development of a National Radon Action Plan 2015-10-25 The IAEA recently organized a meeting, from 19 to 23 October 2015, to review national radon measurements taken in the Asia and the Pacific region, and to develop corresponding radon action plans. More » Training trainers of national radiation protection officers: A workshop in the United Arab Emirates builds capacities in radiation safety in Asia and the Pacific 2015-10-13 A regional ?train the trainers? workshop for radiation protection officers has taken place from 4 to 8 October in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. More » Asian Cooperative Agreement holds 44th General Conference meeting 2015-09-22 Some 50 representatives from 22 participating Government Parties of the Asia and Pacific region, as well as the IAEA, met at the IAEA Headquarters in Vienna, Austria on 11 September 2015 for the 44th RCA General Conference Meeting.

More » IAEA and KISR sign Practical Arrangement to enhance cooperation in the area of marine environmental monitoring and protection 2015-09-18 The IAEA and Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) are now working together to address marine environmental monitoring and protection challenges. Under the practical arrangement, the IAEA and KISR will collaborate to further strengthen institutional and technical capabilities. More » Indonesia signs its third Country Programme Framework (CPF) for 2016-2020 2015-09-17 Prof. Djarot S. Wisnubroto, Chairman of BATAN, and Mr Dazhu Yang, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, have signed Indonesia?s Country Programme Framework (CPF) for the period of 2016 - 2020.

More » Fiji signs its first Country Programme Framework (CPF) for 2016?2021 2015-09-16 Mr Osea Naiqamu, Minister for Fisheries and Forests, Fiji and Mr Dazhu Yang, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, have signed Fiji?s Country Programme Framework (CPF) for the period of 2016?2021. More » Towards Optimal Cancer Treatment: IAEA Launches New Smartphone App for Cancer Staging 2015-09-16 Identifying the stage of cancer quickly and accurately will become easier for health care professionals in developing countries, thanks to an IAEA-developed smartphone app launched today. More » Marshall Islands signs its First Country Programme Framework (CPF) for 2016 - 2021 2015-09-16 Mr Bruce Kijiner, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Marshall Islands and Mr Dazhu Yang, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, have signed Marshall Island?s first Country Programme Framework (CPF) for the period of 2016?2021.

More » IAEA Regional Meeting to Enhance Capability in Monitoring Intakes of Radionuclides in Asia and the Pacific Region in Cooperation with China Institute for Radiation Protection in Taiyuan, China 2015-09-04 Experts and counterparts from the IAEA technical cooperation (TC) project RAS9075, ?Strengthening Radiation Protection Infrastructure and Technical Capabilities for the Safety of Workers, Patients and the Public?, met in Taiyuan, China from 24 ? 28 August 2015 to discuss technical capabilities in the region to monitor occupational intakes of radionuclides. More » IAEA and IRRI sign agreement to train experts in rice production 2015-08-24 The IAEA has signed an Agreement with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in June 2015 so that IAEA training activities taking place at IRRI can be optimized, more tailored to Member State needs, and more cost-efficient.

More » Scientific Forum 2015: Super Crops Created from Irradiated Natural Polymers in Viet Nam 2015-08-19 Looking to increase yield and eliminate disease, farmers in Viet Nam are now feeding their plants oligochitosan and oligoalginate substances made from irradiated natural polymers. More » Asian Cooperative Agreement Holds Working Group Meeting on RCA Medium Term Strategy and Strategic Priorities 2015-07-09 The 42nd RCA General Conference Meeting formed a Working Group (WG) on the Extension of the RCA Medium Term Strategy and Strategic Priorities (MTS & SP) for 2018-2023. With the endorsement of the RCA Member States, representatives met in Austria Vienna on 22-26 June 2015 to discuss the Medium Term Strategy. More » ARASIA Combating Desertification through Effective Soil-water Management and Cropping Practices 2015-07-07 A two-week training course on nitrogen management and greenhouse gas emissions under the Regional Project RAS5068, ?Developing Effective Practices for Combating Desertification (ARASIA),?

was held at the Soil and Water Management & Crop Nutrition Laboratory (SWMCNL) in Seibersdorf, Austria from 4 to 15 May. More » First Regional Meeting for Peer Review of National Self-assessments of Compliance Assurance Regime for Transport Safety, and for Establishment of On-Going Use of Network 2015-06-19 Organised by the IAEA, in cooperation with the Government of Jordan, through the Jordan Nuclear Regulatory Commission (JNRC), the First Regional Meeting for Peer Review of National Self-assessments of Compliance Assurance Regime for Transport Safety took place in Amman, Jordan, from 7-11 June 2015. Altogether, 15 participants from the TC region of Asia and the Pacific took part in the meeting. More » Laying down foundations: ARASIA States-Parties gather to plan medium-term strategy 2015-06-16 From 8-11 June, the IAEA?s Vienna headquarters provided the venue for an expert meeting of the working group to discuss and draft a Medium-Term Strategy (MTS) for the ARASIA States-Parties.

More » IAEA Impact: Sri Lanka Proves Radioactivity Is Not An Issue In Its Coastal Waters 2015-06-16 Over one million Sri Lankans rely on the sea for their income, and about half of the animal protein intake of the island?s population comes from fish. The sea provides the inhabitants of the country with livelihoods, day-to-day nutrition, or both. More » IAEA Impact: Plant Mutation Breeding Helps Bangladesh to Feed Its Growing Population 2015-06-11 Villages in the northern region of Bangladesh used to struggle with poverty and hunger during the long months of the ?monga? periods, but they are now bustling as farmers and workers harvest new crop varieties developed using nuclear techniques. More » National Liaison Officers and Assistants receive briefing in technical cooperation 2015-06-10 Held from 1-5 June 2015, an induction workshop was held to provide guidance to the new NLOs and NLAs on the IAEA?s TC programme functions, TC strategy and partnership, Country Programme Frameworks (CPF), the process of TC programme formulation, implementation and reporting, radiation safety requirements, and legal considerations.

More » Regional Workshop on Aerosol and Pollution Source Fingerprint Databases 2015-06-09 A Regional Workshop is being organized by IAEA in cooperation with the Government of Korea, through the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, and will explore the subject of air particulate matter pollution from 8 to 12 June, 2015. More » Regional Training Course on Environmental Monitoring of Radionuclides and Assessment of Exposures to the Public 2015-05-29 A Regional Training Course on Environmental Monitoring of Radionuclides and Assessment of Exposures to the Public took place in Beijing, China, from 18-22 May 2015.

More » Marshall Islands designs its first TC Programme 2015-05-20 A delegation from the Marshall Islands participated in a ?Project Design Meeting for the 2016-2017 TC Cycle,' whose aim was provide the Marshall Islands with the skills and expertise necessary to design their first projects More » Regional Meeting on the Status of National Regulatory Infrastructures for Safety in Asia and the Pacific 2015-05-11 The Regional Meeting on the Status of National Regulatory Infrastructures for Safety in Asia and the Pacific was held in Hanoi, Viet Nam, from 19?23 April 2015. The meeting was held within the framework of the IAEA?s regional technical cooperation (TC) project RAS/9/062, ?Promoting and Maintaining Regulatory Infrastructures for the Control of Radiation Sources?.

More » Supporting international efforts to prevent, control and mitigate Ciguatera Fish Poisoning using nuclear techniques 2015-05-08 IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano and Dr Ismahane Elouafi, Director General of the ICBA, recently signed a Practical Arrangement, formalizing the already fruitful relationship between the IAEA and ICBA. More » American University of Sharjah contributes to evaluating and mapping air pollutants 2015-05-05 The American University of Sharjah (AUS) is actively participating in the activities of the IAEA Technical Cooperation Project RAS0072 ?Evaluating and Mapping Air Pollutants Using Nuclear Analytical Techniques in ARASIA State Parties?. More » Third Coordination Meeting on UAE Integrated Work Plan for Nuclear Power Programme 2015-04-17 Technical experts and national counterparts gathered at the Agency?s Vienna headquarters to participate in the third Coordination Meeting of the Integrated Work Plan (IWP) to support the UAE?s implementation of a nuclear power programme.

More » Mongolia and IAEA: Successful Cooperation, Renewed Focus on Cancer Care 2015-04-15 Replacements for existing radiotherapy treatment units and the forthcoming installation of two new linear accelerators will greatly boost Mongolia's national cancer programme and reduce waiting times for cancer patients. More » ARASIA Projects in Motion 2015-04-13 In order to ensure high-quality project designs, a Regional Meeting on Pre-Project Assistance and Project Design was organized for the ARASIA Project Concepts for 2016-2017. More » A Chat with the Director-General of the Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Therapy 2015-03-05 We sat down with Professor Vong Hu Tan, Director-General of the Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (VARANS), to learn more about Viet Nam's rich history of cooperation with the IAEA.

More » IAEA and ICBA sign Practical Arrangement in support of their soil, water, crop and nutrition activities 2015-03-04 IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano and Dr Ismahane Elouafi, Director General of the ICBA, recently signed a Practical Arrangement, formalizing the already fruitful relationship between the IAEA and ICBA. More » Papua New Guinea to Fight Pests, Improve Access to Cancer Care Under First Ever IAEA Project 2015-03-04 Papua New Guinea, one of the IAEA?s newest Member States, is getting ready to use nuclear techniques in agriculture, environmental monitoring and cancer treatment, the country?s officials said. More » Meeting on the formulation of RCA's medium-term strategy for 2018-2023 2015-03-04 From 16-20 February 2015, an expert group gathered in Vienna to discuss and formulate the Medium-Term Strategy, which covers the period of 2018-2023, of the Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology for Asia and the Pacific (RCA).

More » Review meeting on combatting mosquitoes with the sterile insect technique 2015-02-27 In support of RAS5066, which aims to transfer SIT technologies to Member States in order to suppress mosquito populations, sixteen participants from eight countries attended a mid-term review meeting hosted by the Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. More » Project Design meeting to support participation of new Member States Brunei, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea in the 2016-2017 TC Programme 2015-02-25 From 16-20 February 2015, a meeting was held at the Agency's Vienna HQ to provide the three new IAEA Member States (Brunei, Fiji and Papua New Guinea) with the expertise, knowledge and skills to design their new technical cooperation programme. More » Fighting Forgery: IAEA, Bank of Lebanon and Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission cooperate to detect counterfeit bills 2015-02-17 With the support of the IAEA, the Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission (LAEC) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Central Bank of Lebanon (BDL) to develop quality-control testing for banknotes and coins.

More » A beaming future: IAEA supports installation of e-beam facility in Philippines 2015-02-11 Through an ongoing technical cooperation (TC) project, the Philippines now counts itself among the few countries in the region with a fully-functional and operational e-beam facility. More » Game plan: With IAEA support, Afghanistan plans and designs new TC projects 2015-02-10 The Government of Afghanistan is working with the IAEA to plan and design a suite of national projects for the 2016?2017 technical cooperation (TC) cycle. In an effort to identify the country?s needs and capacities, a meeting was held from 2-6 February 2015 at the IAEA?s Vienna Headquarters to discuss the national projects proposed by Afghanistan. More » World Cancer Day: Afghanistan Looks to Open Cancer Care Centre 2015-02-03 In the conflict zones of Afghanistan, one quiet adversary that does not take any sides is cancer.

But for the first time in 23 years the country is preparing to get a radiotherapy machine and re-establish cancer care in Kabul More » Passing the torch: IAEA and Singapore commit to Third Country Training 2015-02-03 On 26 January 2015, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano and Her Excellency Grace Fu, Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Singapore-IAEA Third Country Training Programme (TCTP). More » Brunei, IAEA Discuss Cooperation in Cancer Care, Agriculture 2015-02-02 The IAEA is prepared to assist Brunei Darussalam, one of its newest members, in expanding the use of nuclear techniques for the welfare of its population, said IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano in Bandar Seri Begawan last week. More » Addressing land degradation through nuclear techniques 2015-01-06 Land degradation, mainly caused by soil erosion, is currently affecting 1.9 billion hectares globally, which represents around 65% of the global soil resources.

In the Asia Pacific region, the expanding population, economic development and global environmental changes keep putting severe pressure on the already vulnerable soil and water resources further contributing to soil erosion, poor crop yield and food insecurity. More » Regional Training Course on Developing a Safety Case for Predisposal Waste Management Facilities in line with the IAEA Safety Standards 2014-12-22 The Regional Training Course on Developing a Safety Case for Predisposal Waste Management Facilities in line with the IAEA Safety Standards took place in Vienna, Austria, from 15 to 19 December 2014. Altogether 20 participants from 16 Member States in the Asia and the Pacific region attended the workshop. More » EU support to the efforts in the establishment of Compliance Assurance Regime for Safe Transport of Radioactive Material in Asia and the Pacific Region 2014-12-16 A regional training course on regulatory enforcement took place from 12-16 October 2014 in Doha, Qatar. Altogether, 24 participants from 14 Member States in the Asia and the Pacific region attended the training course.

More » Regional Training Course on Regulatory Enforcements 2014-12-08 A regional training course on regulatory enforcement took place from 12-16 October 2014 in Doha, Qatar. Altogether, 24 participants from 14 Member States in the Asia and the Pacific region attended the training course. More » Enhancing the Quality of RCA Project Designs for the IAEA 2016-2017 Technical Cooperation Programme 2014-12-03 Over 40 participants including Lead Country Coordinators and experts from Asia and the Pacific region, as well as the RCA Programme Advisory Committee and IAEA staff gathered in Vienna for a project design meeting.

More » Developing Guidelines on Nuclear Techniques in pre-Flood mitigation and post-Flood management in the Asia and Pacific region 2014-11-20 Emanating from the project RAS/5/069 first Coordination Meeting on Complementing Conventional Approaches with Nuclear Techniques towards Flood Risk Mitigation and Post-Flood Rehabilitation Efforts in Asia, held from 10?13 June 2014 in Vienna, a Task Force meeting of eminent experts was convened at the IAEA Headquarters in Vienna from 11?14 November 2014. More » Regional Workshop on the Improvement of Compliance Assurance Regime for Transport Safety of Radioactive Material 2014-11-18 The regional workshop on the Improvement of Compliance Assurance Regime for Transport Safety of Radioactive Material took place in Vienna, Austria, from 3-7 November 2014.

More » IAEA supports the participation of female nuclear professionals in the 22nd WiN Global Conference in Sydney, Australia 2014-11-12 For several years, the IAEA?s Department of Technical Cooperation (TC) has sponsored the participation of female nuclear professionals in WiN (Women in Nuclear Global) conferences. This year, 19 women received support from TC to attend the 22nd WiN Global Conference in Sydney, Australia. More » Inspiring High School Students to Pursue Careers in Nuclear Science 2014-11-04 A pilot project supported by the IAEA aims to raise awareness and encourage high school students to pursue careers in nuclear science and tecnnology. More » Regional Training Course on Radiation Protection in the Oil and Gas Industry 2014-11-04 A regional training course on Radiation Protection in the Oil and Gas Industry took place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, from 19-23 October 2014.

More » Mid-term review meeting for project on mutation breeding approaches to develop new crop varieties adaptable to climate change 2014-10-29 From 6 to 10 October 2014, a RAS/5/056 Mid-term Review Meeting at Yogyakarta, Indonesia, hosted by the National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN) of Indonesia with the cooperation of the IAEA. More » Training Course on the Mass rearing and SIT-related activities for the control of Aedes mosquitoes, the major vectors of dengue and chikingunya 2014-10-17 In the frame of IAEA? technical cooperation project RAS/5/066, a training course on Mass rearing and SIT-related activities for the control of Aedes mosquitoes, the major vectors of dengue and chikingunya was organized in Juazeiro and Jacobina, Brazil from 22?26 September 2014.

More » Transcontinental Training: IAEA Launches its Distance-Assisted Learning Platform - DATOL 2014-10-16 On the margins of the 58th IAEA General Conference, the Agency officially launched the online platform of the distance-assisted training online (DATOL) programme through the Human Health Campus - an IAEA-developed resource for health professionals to find organized and dependable professional educational materials. More » Enhancing Nuclear Science and Technology Cooperation under the Regional Co-operative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology for Asia and the Pacific (RCA) 2014-09-23 Over 60 representatives from the Asia and Pacific region as well as the RCA Regional Office and IAEA staff gathered in Vienna, Austria, on 19 September, to review policy and management issues related to the RCA.

More » Building Capacities in Advanced Non-Destructive Evaluation Technologies in the Asia and Pacific region 2014-09-10 From 18-22 August 2014 in Hanoi, Viet Nam, the Final Project Review Meeting for RAS/1/013 (RCA), "Supporting Advanced Non-Destructive Examination for Enhanced Industrial Safety, Product Quality and Productivity", was held. More » Strengthening Afghanistan?s Preparedness in First Response to a Radiological Emergency 2014-09-08 A National Training Course on First Response to Radiation Emergencies for Afghan specialists was organized by the IAEA in Vienna, Austria from 18-22 August 2014 under the framework of a IAEA national TC project. More » Advanced Training Course on the Application of RAIS 3.3 Web for Management of Regulatory Programme 2014-09-04 The training course took place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from 18-22 August 2014. Altogether, 22 participants from 11 Member States in the Asia and the Pacific region attended the training course.

More » Regional Workshop on Occupational Radiation Protection and ALARA in Waste Management 2014-08-27 A Regional Workshop on occupational radiation protection and ALARA in waste management was organized by the IAEA, with the funding support from the European Commission under the IAEA-EC joint partnership agreement, and in cooperation with the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety and the Asia Region ALARA Network (ARAN). More » Weather-proof rice: IAEA works with IRRI to build capacities in cultivating more resilient strains of rice 2014-08-18 In July 2014, a collaborative Group Fellowship between the IAEA and IRRI (International Rice Research Institute) took place at the IRRI Training Center at Los Banos, Philippines from 1-25 July.

More » A blooming concern: With IAEA support, countries in the Asia and the Pacific region address harmful algal blooms 2014-08-05 As part of the IAEA's efforts to help address issues related to harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the Asia and the Pacific region, a regional TC project has kicked off with a first Coordination and Planning Meeting in the Philippines, June 23-27. More » Workshop on Establishing a Register of Radiation Sources Based on the Regulatory Authority Information System (RAIS) 2014-07-03 The workshop on establishing a register of radiation sources based on the Regulatory Authority Information System (RAIS) took place in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, from 23 to 27 June 2014.

More » EU-funded Capacity Building Activities in the Asia and the Pacific Region to Strengthen and Harmonize National Capabilities to Respond to Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies 2014-07-02 With support from the European Union, it was possible to organize two regional events in the second quarter of 2014 to support the participating Member States of the project in achieving a higher degree of compliance with the requirements of the IAEA Safety Standards (GS-R-2) in the area of Emergency Preparedness and Response. More » EU support to the efforts in the establishment of National Compliance Assurance Regime for Safe Transport of Radioactive Material in Asia and the Pacific Region 2014-07-01 From 28 April to 2 May 2014, a Regional Training Course on the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material for the Pacific Islands States was held in Christchurch, New Zealand. The training course was notable in that it was the first time such a course had been specifically intended for small users with limited radiation safety infrastructure.

More » IAEA Representatives Attend the Meeting of the Board of Representatives of ARASIA 2014-06-27 The Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) has hosted the annual meeting of the Board of Representatives of the Cooperative Agreement for Arab States in Asia for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology (ARASIA) from June 16-18, in Amman, Jordan. More » Building Institutional Levees: IAEA, Member States Develop Pre- and Post-Flood Policies 2014-06-27 The 1st Coordination Meeting for RAS5069: Complementing Conventional Approaches with Nuclear Techniques towards Flood Risk Mitigation and Post-Flood Rehabilitation Efforts in Asia was held at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna from 10-13 June 2014 More » Regional Training Course on the Assessment of Occupational Exposures due to External Sources of Radiation 2014-06-26 The regional training course took place in Bogor, Indonesia, from 2-6 June 2014.

Altogether, 18 participants from 14 Member States in the Asia and the Pacific region attended the training course. More » New approaches for the sterilization of disease-carrying mosquitoes 2014-06-26 A group of international experts gathered at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna to discuss sustainable alternative pest control methods for mosquito vectors, including SIT.The meeting was attended by the incoming Deputy Director General for Nuclear Applications, Mr. Aldo Malavasi, who is also an internationally renowned expert in SIT. More » Strengthening Radiation Medicine Capacities at Chiang Mai University, Thailand 2014-06-16 On 22 May 2014, the Center for Medical Excellence of Chiang Mai University, in Thailand, held the Grand Opening of its new PET/CT and Cyclotron Center.

More » National Liaison Officers for the Asia & the Pacific region meet in Vienna 2014-05-21 On 5-8 May 2014, a meeting, bringing together 57 National Liaison Officers and National Liaison Assistants from the Member States and entities currently participating in the technical cooperation (TC) programme in the Asia and the Pacific region, was held at the IAEA Headquarters in Vienna. More » Lao People?s Democratic Republic signs its first Country Programme Framework (CPF) for 2014-2018 2014-05-13 HE Khamkheuang Bounteum, Lao People?s Democratic Republic Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the IAEA, and Kwaku Aning, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, have signed the Lao People?s Democratic Republic?s first Country Programme Framework (CPF) for the period of 2014 - 2018.

More » Asian Cooperative Agreement Holds 36th Regional Meeting 2014-04-15 Improving social, economic and environmental benefits is the shared objective of the RCA, a regional grouping of Asian countries which seeks to promote research, development and training related to nuclear science and technology. More » Moving towards a Regional Emergency Response Plan in the Gulf 2014-04-14 Through the IAEA technical cooperation project RAS/2/015, Supporting the Introduction of Nuclear Power for Electricity Generation and Seawater Desalination, the IAEA has been supporting the GCC countries in their development of the Regional Radiological and Nuclear Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan. More » Raising the bar - Supporting quality assurance programmes in nuclear analytical laboratories 2014-04-10 A training workshop on quality assurance requirements for environmental radioanalytical laboratories took place last week at IAEA headquarters in Vienna, organized by the IAEA Environment Laboratories, under IAEA technical cooperation projects IRQ0006, JOR9010 and UAE7003.

More » Fiji Seeks to Establish a Radiotherapy Facility to Improve Cancer Treatment 2014-04-10 Fiji has one of the highest death rates from breast and cervical cancer in the world, but has no radiotherapy services. Every year the Ministry of Health sends approximately 15-24 radiotherapy patients to India, New Zealand or Australia. Fiji has requested the IAEA's help to establish a radiotherapy facility to improve cancer treatment in the country. More » TC Programme and EU work to strengthen nuclear regulation in the Philippines, and beyond 2014-03-28 The IAEA, in cooperation with the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), has provided an EU-funded regional training course in Manila, Philippines, in January 2014. More » Upgrading radioactive waste management infrastructure in the Asia and the Pacific region: Review meeting takes place in Thailand 2014-03-26 The Midterm Project Review and Coordination Meeting of the IAEA Regional technical cooperation Project RAS/9/071, entitled Establishing a Radioactive Waste Management Infrastructure, took place in Bangkok, Thailand, from 10 to 14 March 2014.

More » RCA looking forward: Promoting increased ownership and enhanced management of regional cooperative programmes by RCA Government Parties 2014-03-14 Three working groups, comprised of 14 representatives from the States Parties and members of the Monitoring Committee of the Regional Co-operative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology for Asia and the Pacific (RCA), have met at IAEA headquarters, Vienna, in February 2014. More » Promoting nuclear and radiation safety, with support from the European Commission, in Asia and the Pacific region 2014-02-20 Under a contribution agreement, the EC will contribute a total of 1 754 600 Euros to support the needs of the Asia and the Pacific region in the field of nuclear and radiation safety from 2013 to 2016.

More » New Members States, Fiji and Papua New Guinea, meet to discuss preparatory work for the 2016-2017 technical cooperation (TC) programme 2014-02-07 Delegates met at the IAEA headquarters, Vienna, from 27 to 31 January 2014, to discuss the preparatory work for the development and submission of the next TC programme. More » IAEA Director General Visits Southeast Asia 2014-02-04 IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano visited Souteast Asia from 7 to 17 January 2014. More » A Regular Day at "K Hospital" in Hanoi 2014-02-03 It could be mistaken for Hanoi?s central railway station at rush hour. Hundreds of people, many with bags and camp beds, wait in long queues. But they are not buying tickets or boarding trains. They are awaiting the results of medical tests, collecting medication or registering for treatment.

More » Supporting the scientists of the future: Developing extra-curricular educational material on nuclear science and technology for secondary schools 2014-01-02 The IAEA has initiated a project to develop training materials and teaching aids to support extra-curricular activities to help engage the younger generations and, hopefully, inspire students to pursue careers in nuclear science and technology. More » Sri Lanka Establishes Baseline Data for Marine Radioactivity 2013-11-22 With technical support from the IAEA, Sri Lanka has successfully established a baseline data for marine radioactivity around the island More » Supporting infrastructure for introducing a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh: the IAEA assists with the review of regulatory guidance on site evaluation 2013-11-18 From 6 to 15 November 2013, IAEA experts met with the counterparts from the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority to assist in the review of the draft regulatory guidance on site evaluation for safety of nuclear power plants. More » Supporting sustainable crop production in Asia and the Pacific: IAEA hosts a group fellowship 2013-11-12 On 7 October ?

5 November 2013, the IAEA, under the technical cooperation (TC) programme, hosted a group fellowship on agricultural soil and water management to support sustainable crop production in the Asia and the Pacific region. More » Kuwait signs its second Country Programme Framework (CPF) for 2014-2019 2013-09-19 Naji M. Al-Mutairi, Director General, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, and Kwaku Aning, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, have signed Kuwait?s Country Programme Framework (CPF) for the period of 2014-2019 on 19 September 2013. More » Pakistan signs a Country Programme Framework (CPF) for 2014-2019 2013-09-19 Ansar Parvez, Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and Kwaku Aning, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, have signed Pakistan?s Country Programme Framework (CPF) for the period of 2014 - 2019 on 19 September 2013.

More » Bangladesh signs a Country Programme Framework (CPF) for 2013-2017 2013-09-17 A. S. M. Firoz, Chairman Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission and Kwaku Aning, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, have signed Bangladesh?s Country Programme Framework (CPF) for the period of 2013-2017 on 17 September 2013. More » Sri Lanka signs a Country Programme Framework (CPF) for 2014-2017 2013-09-17 R. L. Wijaywardana, Chairman, Atomic Energy Authority, Sri Lanka, and Kwaku Aning, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, have signed Sri Lanka?s Country Programme Framework (CPF) for the period of 2014-2017 on 19 September 2013. More » From Hilltops to Oceans - Managing Pollution in Manila Bay with Isotopic Techniques 2013-09-17 R. L.

Wijaywardana, Chairman, Atomic Energy Authority, Sri Lanka, and Kwaku Aning, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, have signed Sri Lanka?s Country Programme Framework (CPF) for the period of 2014-2017 on 19 September 2013. More » Palau hosts a review meeting to assess the progress of the technical cooperation (TC) project Marine Benchmark Study on the Possible Impact of the Fukushima Radioactive Releases in the Asia-Pacific Region 2013-09-10 The annual meeting to review the progress of a technical cooperation (TC) project ?Marine Benchmark Study on the Possible Impact of the Fukushima Radioactive Releases in the Asia-Pacific Region?, has taken place in Palau from 12 to 16 August 2013.

More » IAEA Conducts Workshop on State Systems of Accounting for and Control of Nuclear Material for Myanmar 2013-08-30 On the request of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the IAEA conducted a national workshop on State Systems for Accounting for and Control of nuclear material (SSAC) in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, from 26 to 28 August 2013. More » Developing a regional emergency response plan in the Gulf region with the IAEA?s technical cooperation support 2013-08-30 Prompted by the Fukushima accident and the growth in activities related to the development of nuclear power in the region, the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) is developing a Regional Radiological and Nuclear Emergency Preparedness Plan (RNEPR) for the countries in the Gulf region. More » Planning for the Future: Developing Palau?s technical cooperation Country Programme Framework 2013-08-02 Palau is now in the process of preparing its first Country Programme Framework (CPF), a document that provides a frame of reference for technical cooperation between a Member State and the IAEA.

More » Joining forces to improve rice production in the Asia and the Pacific region 2013-08-02 The IAEA, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) have joined forces to enhance rice productivity, combining their expertise to develop sustainable rice production systems that will improve food security and farmers? livelihoods in the Asia and the Pacific region. More » Vietnam and IAEA update an Integrated Work Plan (IWP) for the development of nuclear power infrastructure for 2011-2015 2013-07-03 The annual meeting to review the status of implementation of an Integrated Work Plan (IWP) for building nuclear power infrastructure in Vietnam has taken place at the IAEA?s headquarters in Vienna from 24 to 26 June 2013.

More » United Arab Emirates and IAEA sign an Integrated Work Plan (IWP) to support the implementation of the national nuclear power programme 2013-06-07 United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the IAEA have signed an Integrated Work Plan (IWP) to support the implementation of the national nuclear power programme on 5 June 2013. More » IAEA Regional Workshop Details Support for Pacific Islands States 2013-05-03 12 Pacific Island States took part in an IAEA workshop that explained the developmental benefits to be obtained through nuclear science and applications in human health, water resource management, food and agriculture, marine and coastal environment protection, and climate change studies. More » Introducing a Regional Learning Management System in KAERI for Asia and the Pacific region 2013-03-25 The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) hosted a regional meeting on the topic of ?Train-the-Trainers on the Regional Learning Management System (LMS),? on 5-8 March 2013.

More » ARASIA Project Design Meeting held at IAEA HQ 2013-03-11 Within the efforts of the Asia and the Pacific Division for the preparation of the Technical Cooperation Programme for the TC cycle 2014-2015, a meeting was held from 6 to 8 March 2013 in Vienna to discuss some of the ARASIA proposed TC project More » IAEA School for Drafting Safety Regulations takes place for the first time for the Asia and the Pacific Region 2013-02-08 This January, the IAEA, through its technical cooperation programme, has held a School of Drafting Safety Regulations for countries in the Asia and the Pacific Region.

It is the first time that such a School has been organized for Member States from this region More » Indonesia signs a Country Programme Framework (CPF) for 2013-2017 2012-12-13 Mr Rachmat Budiman, Ambassador and Resident Representative of Indonesia and Mr Kwaku Aning, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, have signed Indonesia?s Country Programme Framework (CPF) for the period of 2013-2017 on 13 December 2012. More » Making Food Safer with Irradiation Technology in Indonesia: A Better Diet for People with Weak Immune Systems 2012-10-12 Find out how the IAEA is assisting Indonesia with food safety. More » The RCA celebrates its 40th anniversary at a side event at the IAEA?s 56th General Conference 2012-09-19 The Regional Co-operative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology for Asia and the Pacific (RCA) celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

As part of the activities to mark the occasion, a panel discussion was held as a side event to the IAEA?s 56th General Conference on 18 September 2012. More » Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of RCA: RCA Panel Discussion 2012-09-10 The RCA fosters cooperation in nuclear science and technology in the Asia and the Pacific region. This year, the RCA celebrates its 40th anniversary with a Panel Discussion on successful collaboration over four decades in human health, food and agriculture, water and the environment, and industrial applications. Tuesday 18 September, 10:30 ?

13:00, Meeting Room 7, M Building B1144 More » NLO Induction Workshop Vienna 2012-09-10 An NLO/NLA Induction Workshop took place in Vienna More » The first IAEA group fellowship training on soil water management funded by Japan comes to successful end 2012-09-05 The first group fellowship provided by the IAEA on the use of isotopic and nuclear techniques for soil and water management has come to a successful end on 17 August 2012.

More » 1st Coordination Meeting on Climate-Proofing Rice Production 2012-07-09 The 1st coordination meeting on Climate-Proofing Rice Production was held from 25 to 29 June in Manila, Philippines More » 3rd Regional Coordination Meeting on Clinical Training Programmes 2012-04-02 The Third Regional Meeting on the Clinical Training Programmes and Certification Scheme/ Process was held from 05 to 09 March 2012 in Vienna, Austria More » 32nd Regional Meeting of the Natl RCA Reps 2010-05-28 representatives of the Governments of the parties to the Regional Cooperative Agreement (RCA) was held in Manila, Philippines on 27-30 April 2010. More » Human Nutrition to Prevent Obesity in Syria 2010-05-17 The IAEA has been assisting Syria in addressing obesity issues through the TC project SYR/6/012 The Role of Human Nutrition in the Prevention of Obesity and Related Non-communicable Diseases which started in 2005.

More » Improving Groundwater Management through Isotopes in Lebanon 2010-05-15 The Agency has been assisting Lebanon through the TC project LEB/8/004 Improvement of Groundwater Management and Protection through the Use of Isotopes and Nuclear Techniques, to establish a laboratory that is capable of using nuclear techniques for the study and management of water resources through the use of isotope techniques. More » Improving Cyclotron Facilities for Medical Use in Syria 2010-05-08 Under TC Project SYR/4/010 Developing Therapeutic Radiopharmaceuticals, the Syrian counterpart continued their efforts to upgrade and improve the existing cyclotron and related facilities for the production and distribution of radiopharmaceuticals for medical use. More » RCF Working Group Meeting 2010-03-01 From 25-26 February 2010, Experts gathered as a Working Group at the IAEA Headquarters in Vienna, to help come up with the basis for the Regional Cooperative Framework (RCF) for the Asia and the Pacific Region.

More » Malaysia signs CPF 2010-03-01 On 26 February 2010 at the IAEA Headquarters in Vienna, the Malaysia CPF was signed by Dr Daud Mohamad, Director General from the Malaysian Nuclear Agency and IAEA DDG-TC Ms Ana Mar�a Cetto. More » Singapore signs first CPF 2010-02-05 On 2 February 2010 at the IAEA Headquarters in Vienna, the first Singapore CPF was signed by the Resident Representative of Singapore in Geneva and IAEA DDG-TC Ms Ana Mar�a Cetto. More » Pakistan signs CPF 2010-01-12 The Pakistan CPF was signed on 14 December 2009 by Dr Ansar Parvez, Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and signed by IAEA DDG-TC Ms Ana Mar�a Cetto at the IAEA Headquarters in Vienna on 11 January 2010.

More » Myanmar signs CPF 2009-12-17 On 15 December 2009 the first CPF with Myanmar was signed at the IAEA in Vienna, by Ms Ana-Mar�a Cetto, Deputy Director General, Department of Technical Cooperation and, on behalf of the Government of Myanmar, by Mr Tin Win, Ambassador, Embassy of the Union of Myanmar, Federal Republic of Germany. More » Mongolia signs CPF 2009-12-16 On 15 December 2009 the second CPF between Mongolia and the IAEA (for 2009-2014) was signed, by Ms Ana-Mar�a Cetto, Deputy Director General, Department of Technical Cooperation and, on behalf of the Government of Mongolia, by Prof. Sodnom Enkhbat, ScD, Director General, Nuclear Energy Agency of Mongolia. More » TCAP NLO Meeting at the Hillinger Hotel in Vienna 2009-12-14 The TCAP National Liaison Officers (NLO) Meeting was held from 9-11 December 2009 at the Hillinger Hotel in Vienna.

More » Kuwait signs its first Country Programme Framework 2009-12-14 Kuwait signed its first Country Programme Framework (CPF) with the IAEA on Friday 11 December 2009. The CPF has identified energy, health, safety and security as well as other socioeconomic issues as development priority areas of cooperation with the IAEA. More » Lebanon signs CPF 2009-11-25 On 24 November 2009 at the IAEA Headquarters in Vienna, the Lebanon CPF was signed by Mr. Mouin Hamz�, Secretary General from the National Council for Scientific Research and IAEA DDG-TC Ms Ana Mar�a Cetto. More » RAS4031 RTC on Electricity and Water Demand Assessment 2009-11-02 On 18?29 October, 2009 in Kuwait City, Kuwait, the first training activity for GCC countries was carried out under RAS/4/031 Planning and Developing Nuclear Power, so as to assist the GCC countries in building human capacity for planning and development of nuclear power.

More » Sri Lanka signs CPF 2009-10-30 On Tuesday 29 October 2009, the Sri Lanka Country Programme Framework (CPF) for 2010-2015 was signed by the Sri Lanka Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of Sri Lanka, and IAEA DDG-TC Ana Mar�a Cetto. More » Jordan signs CPF 2009-09-21 On 18 September 2009 at the IAEA Headquarters in Vienna, the Jordan CPF was signed by Dr. Khalid Toukan, Chairman from the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission and IAEA DDG-TC Ms Ana Mar�a Cetto. More » RAS6034 Senior Mgmt Mtg on ISO15189 2008-07-30 From 14-17 July 2008, a Senior Management Meeting on ISO 15189 Equipment Management and Laboratory Safety for TC Project RAS/6/034 Quality Assurance Programme for Molecular-Based Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases, took place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

More » Profile: IAEA, the nuclear watchdog - BBC News BBC News Profile: IAEA, the nuclear watchdog 5 February 2015 Close share panel Image copyright AP Image caption The IAEA tries to keep an eye on the world's nuclear facilities, such as this one in Iran The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - the nuclear watchdog of the United Nations - promotes the peaceful use of atomic energy while trying to make sure that the technology is not used for military purposes. It has a high-profile role in monitoring compliance with international safeguards, including the 1968 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). In recent years it has been active in Iran, North Korea and Iraq. At a glance The IAEA is the United Nations' nuclear watchdog Set up in 1957 as ''Atoms for Peace'' organisation Works with its members states and partners to promote safe, secure and peaceful nuclear technologies Polices the global pact against the spread of atomic weapons Profile compiled by BBC Monitoring Nobel peace prize judges spoke of the "incalculable" importance of its work in awarding the 2005 prize to the agency and its then director, Mohamed ElBaradei.

The agency also researches the use of atomic energy in such areas as agriculture, industry and medicine. It shares expertise among its members - especially those in the developing world - and sets safety standards. The IAEA advises its members about developing and operating nuclear power stations and disposing of radioactive waste. It had a big role in the aftermath of Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear power station disaster in 1986 and is involved in decommissioning the Soviet-era plant. 'Atoms for peace' The IAEA's roots go back to the early 1950s, when rapid advances in nuclear technology were being made and memories of the destruction wrought by the atomic bomb attacks on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were fresh. We have nine countries that possess nuclear weapons, we have 27,000 warheads in existence Mohamed ElBaradei, IAEA chief 1997-2009 In 1953 US President Dwight D Eisenhower, mindful of trends which he believed would lead to a nuclear arms race, made his "Atoms for Peace" speech to the UN. He envisaged a body that would develop the technology along peaceful lines.

His vision found form in the IAEA, which began work in 1957 as an autonomous, inter-governmental body under the wing of the UN. After the 11 September 2001 attacks on the US, Washington backed calls for an increase in the agency's budget and President George W Bush described the IAEA as a key player in the coalition against terrorism. The agency has warned of the dangers of nuclear-related terrorism. The Bush administration subsequently expressed its dissatisfaction at what it saw as the IAEA's failure to take a tougher line with aspiring nuclear powers such as Iran. Membership: 145 nations Headquarters: Vienna, Austria Known nuclear-armed states: China, France, India, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, UK, US (Israel is widely believed to have nuclear arms) Under Bush's successor, Barack Obama, the US has softened its stance and signalled a readiness to give positive diplomatic engagement with countries such as Iran a chance to work. However, by 2010 Iran was seen by the US as failing to respond to such overtures, and following a critical IAEA report on Iran published in February, the UN Security Council voted in favour of intensifying sanctions against the country.

Leadership Director-general: Yukiya Amano The veteran Japanese diplomat Yukiya Amano took over the helm of the agency in December 2009, succeeding Mohamed ElBaradei, who had led the IAEA since 1997. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Yukiya Amano is responsible for implementing IAEA programmes Born in 1947, Mr Amano is a law graduate and French speaker. He began his diplomatic career when he joined the Japanese Foreign Ministry in 1972. He went on to specialise in multilateral disarmament, taking part in the arms control talks that produced the 1995 extension of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). He became Tokyo's representative to the IAEA in 2005. Seen as a reserved technocrat, he acknowledged that he was assuming leadership of the organisation at a "stormy" time - with the relationship between the IAEA and Iran having just reached a new low - and pledged to seek to defuse tensions.

However, Mr Amano's first report on Iran, published in February 2010, broke with the more cautious style of his predecessor and for the first time raised concerns that Tehran could be seeking to produce a nuclear warhead for a missile. Governors formulate policy He has continued to take a firmer line with Iran than Mr ElBaradei had with a further critical report in late 2010, prompting Tehran to accuse the IAEA of deploying "spies" in the country. The director-general is assisted by six deputy directors-general. He heads the Secretariat, which is responsible for implementing IAEA programmes. A 35-member Board of Governors formulates the agency's policies. All IAEA members are part of the General Conference, which meets every year to discuss agency activities and its budget. Issues and challenges The IAEA has no authority to act on its own, but relies on the willingness of nations to cooperate, or on a UN mandate. Its former head, Mohamed ElBaradei, complained that the agency enjoyed only "uneven authority".

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The North Korea has kept its nuclear facilities well hidden from foreign eyes The problem became apparent in 2002, when North Korea expelled IAEA inspectors, making it almost impossible for the agency to monitor Pyongyang's nuclear activities. Meanwhile, Iran's nuclear programme goes on despite increased IAEA pressure for it to suspend its nuclear activities. Israel, which analysts believe has nuclear warheads, has never signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty and so is not subject to IAEA inspections or sanctions. India and Pakistan, which have acknowledged their possession of nuclear weapons, are also not signatories to the Treaty. The IAEA has been accused, notably by Pakistan, of restricting the transfer of nuclear know-how to developing countries, hindering their social and economic development.

Question: In which European city are the headquarters of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)?
Answer: Vienna